Notes & Sources

NOTES: Percentages on the vertical axis are percentages of students in each category. Includes full-time full-year students who were enrolled in one institution and who were U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Excludes veterans and military grant aid. Percentages may not sum to 100 because of rounding.

In 2011-12, full-time dependent students from families with incomes between $106,000 and $155,000 enrolled in private nonprofit four-year institutions received an average of $2,050 per student in grant aid exceeding their federal financial need. Those from families with higher incomes received an average of $5,800 in grant aid exceeding need.

Full-time dependent students from families with incomes between $106,000 and $155,000 enrolled in public four-year institutions received an average of $1,130 per student in grant aid exceeding their federal financial need. Those from families with higher incomes received an average of $1,810 in grant aid exceeding need.

In 2011-12, 12% of full-time private nonprofit four-year college students received grant aid exceeding their need, including 23% of dependent students from families with incomes between $106,000 and $155,000 and 45% of those with higher incomes.

In 2011-12, 9% of full-time public four-year college students received grant aid exceeding their need, including 23% of dependent students from families with incomes between $106,000 and $155,000 and 32% of those with higher incomes.

In 2011-12, 71% of the non-need-based grant aid received by private nonprofit four-year college students was from their institutions, compared to 26% from employers and other private sources and 2% from states. At public four-year institutions, 44% of non-need-based grant aid was from institutions, compared to 38% from employers and other private sources and 18% from states. (NCES, NPSAS, 2012)